Cause sought in Wilmington condo blaze

WILMINGTON -- The cause of the fire that destroyed a 24-unit apartment building Friday, displacing 18, has not yet been determined.

Deputy Fire Chief Rick McClellan said an investigation he conducted with the state Fire Marshal's Office showed the blaze began on an outdoor deck on the second story of 4000 Avalon Drive, part of the Avalon Oaks complex.

"The third floor and the attic are completely gone," McClellan said. "The building is totaled."

Crews from Wilmington, Billerica, Tewksbury, Burlington and North Reading responded to the four-alarm fire that broke out around 4 p.m. Friday, as a severe blizzard was battering the region.

"It was probably one of the worst nights to fight a fire, especially one that size," McClellan said. "It got worse, it didn't get better, as the night went on."

Firefighters were on the scene until around 3 p.m. Saturday, McClellan said.

McClellan said one resident, a pregnant woman, was transported to the hospital with potential smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported.

Red Cross volunteers worked Friday night to arrange hotel stays for the families whose homes were destroyed and will continue to work with the displaced residents.

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